Date of enactment:
2023 Assembly Bill 954 Date of publication*:
2023 WISCONSIN ACT
AN ACT to amend 448.05 (2) (a) (intro.) and 448.05 (2) (b) (intro.); and to create 448.01 (3), 448.02 (4m), 448.04
(1) (br), 448.05 (2m), 448.075 and 448.40 (3) of the statutes; relating to: provisional licenses to practice medicine
and surgery for internationally trained physicians and granting rule−making authority.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in
senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 448.01 (3) of the statutes is created to
read:
448.01 (3) “International medical program” means
any medical school, residency program, medical intern-
ship program, or other program that is approved by the
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
or provides individuals with a medical education or train-
ing outside the United States that is substantially similar
to the training required to qualify to practice medicine
and surgery in this state.
SECTION 2. 448.02 (4m) of the statutes is created to
read:
448.02 (4m) INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS. The board
may suspend or revoke a license granted under s. 448.04
(1) (br) if a majority of the board determines that the
holder of the license is no longer employed as a physician
in this state by an employer described in s. 448.05 (2m)
(a). The holder of the license shall be granted an opportu-
nity to be heard prior to the board’s determination.
SECTION 3. 448.04 (1) (br) of the statutes is created
to read:
448.04 (1) (br) Provisional license to practice
medicine and surgery for international physicians. The
board may grant a provisional license to practice
medicine and surgery for international physicians to an
applicant who satisfies the requirements under s. 448.05
(2m). The holder of a provisional license granted under
this paragraph may practice medicine and surgery only
under the supervision of a physician who is licensed to
practice medicine and surgery under par. (a). A provi-
sional license to practice medicine and surgery under this
paragraph shall be converted into a license to practice
medicine and surgery under par. (a) after the provisional
license holder practices medicine and surgery full−time
in this state and maintains good standing for 3 consecu-
tive years.
SECTION 4. 448.05 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is
amended to read:
448.05 (2) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (b)
to (f) and sub. (2m), an applicant for any class of license
to practice medicine and surgery must supply evidence
satisfactory to the board of all of the following:
SECTION 5. 448.05 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is
amended to read:
448.05 (2) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (c)
to (f) and sub. (2m), an applicant for a license to practice
medicine and surgery who is a graduate of a foreign med-
ical college must supply evidence satisfactory to the
board of all of the following:
* Section 991.11, WISCONSIN STATUTES: Effective date of acts. “Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor’s
partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.” − 2 −2023 Wisconsin Act 2023 Assembly Bill 954
SECTION 6. 448.05 (2m) of the statutes is created to
read:
448.05 (2m) PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO PRACTICE
MEDICINE AND SURGERY FOR INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS.
An applicant for a provisional license to practice
medicine and surgery for international physicians must
supply evidence to the board that the applicant satisfies
all of the following:
(a) The applicant has an offer for full−time employ-
ment as a physician in this state from a federally qualified
health center, as defined in s. 253.075 (1) (e), a commu-
nity health center, as defined in s. 250.15 (1) (a), a hospi-
tal, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), an ambulatory surgical cen-
ter, as defined in 42 CFR 416.2, or any other health care
facility approved by the board.
(b) The applicant has been granted a medical doctor-
ate or a substantially similar degree by an international
medical program.
(c) The applicant has completed a residency program
or a postgraduate medical training program that is sub-
stantially similar to a residency program.
(d) The applicant has practiced as a fully licensed or
otherwise authorized physician in his or her country of
practice for at least 5 years after completing a residency
program or a postgraduate medical training program that
is substantially similar to a residency program.
(dm) The applicant has practiced continuously as a
physician in his or her country of practice for at least one
out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date that the
applicant submits an application for a provisional license
under s. 448.04 (1) (br).
(e) The applicant has been in good standing with the
medical licensing or regulatory agency of his or her coun-
try of practice for the 5 years preceding the individual’s
application and does not have any pending disciplinary
action before the medical licensing or regulatory agency.
(em) The applicant has obtained certification by the
Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates, a
successor organization, or another evaluation entity
approved by the board.
(f) The applicant has passed all steps of the United
States Medical Licensing Examination administered by
the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Feder-
ation of State Medical Boards, or their successor organi-
zations.
(g) The applicant has, or will have prior to working
as a physician in this state, a federal immigration status
and employment authorization that enables the applicant
to work as a physician in this state.
(h) The applicant possesses basic fluency in the Eng-
lish language.
SECTION 7. 448.075 of the statutes is created to read:
448.075 Provisional licenses. Every 6 months or
upon request of the board, the holder of a provisional
license under s. 448.04 (1) (br) shall submit to the board
a statement certifying whether the license holder is still
employed as a physician in this state and whether the
license holder has been subjected to professional disci-
pline as a result of the license holder’s practice. If the
license holder has been subject to professional discipline,
the license holder shall submit to the board a description
of the circumstances of the discipline.
SECTION 8. 448.40 (3) of the statutes is created to
read:
448.40 (3) The board may promulgate rules defining
“substantially similar” under s. 448.05 (2m).
SECTION 12. 0Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2025.